Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234779) - 2016 - CRC - 1/5/16
In Brief 11
Reclining Seatbacks
Manual Seat Shown, Power SeatSimilar
To recline the seatback: 1. Lift the lever. If necessary, move the safety
belt out of the way to access
the lever.
2. Move the seatback to the desired position, then release
the lever to lock the seatback
in place.
3. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is locked. To return the seatback to an upright
position:
1. Lift the lever fully without applying pressure to the
seatback, and the seatback
returns to the upright position.
2. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is locked.
See Reclining Seatbacks 044.
Memory Features
If available, the MEM, 1, and 2
buttons on the outboard side of the
driver seat are used to manually
store and recall the driver seat and outside mirror positions. These
manually stored positions are
referred to as Button Memory
positions.
The vehicle will also automatically
store driver seat and outside mirror
positions to the current driver
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter when the ignition is
placed in OFF. These automatically
stored positions are referred to as
RKE Memory positions.
See
Memory Seats 045 and
Vehicle Personalization 0121.
Second Row Seats
The rear seatbacks can be folded
down to increase cargo space.
See Rear Seats 049.
Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234779) - 2016 - CRC - 1/5/16
36 Keys, Doors, and Windows
Power Mirrors
To adjust the mirrors:1. Turn the selector switch to L (Left) or R (Right) to choose
the driver or passenger mirror.
2. Move the control to adjust the mirror.
3. Turn the selector switch to
9
to deselect the mirror.
Folding Mirrors
Manual Folding Mirrors
These mirrors can be folded inward
to prevent damage when going
through an automatic car wash. To
fold, pull the mirror toward the
vehicle. Push the mirror outward to
return it to the original position.
Heated Mirrors
This vehicle has heated mirrors:
1(Rear Window Defogger) :
Press to heat the mirrors.
See “Rear Window Defogger” under
Climate Control Systems 0134.
Reverse Tilt Mirrors
If equipped with memory seats, the
passenger and/or driver mirror tilts
to a preselected position when the
vehicle is in R (Reverse). This
allows the curb to be seen when
parallel parking.
The mirror(s) return to the original
position when:
.
The vehicle is shifted out of
R (Reverse), or remains in
R (Reverse) for about
30 seconds.
. The ignition is turned off.
. The vehicle is driven in
R (Reverse) above a set speed.
To turn this feature on or off, see
Vehicle Personalization 0121.
Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234779) - 2016 - CRC - 1/5/16
Seats and Restraints 41
Seats and
Restraints
Head Restraints
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Front Seats
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Power Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . 44
Lumbar Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Reclining Seatbacks . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Memory Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Front Seat Armrest . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Heated Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Folding Seatback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Rear Seats
Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Rear Seat Armrest . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Safety Belts
Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
How to Wear Safety BeltsProperly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Safety Belt Extender . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Safety System Check . . . . . . . . . . 58 Safety Belt Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Replacing Safety Belt System
Parts after a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Airbag System
Airbag System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Where Are the Airbags? . . . . . . . 61
When Should an AirbagInflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
What Makes an Airbag Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
How Does an Airbag Restrain? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
What Will You See after an Airbag Inflates? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Passenger Sensing System . . . 65
Servicing the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Adding Equipment to the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle . . . . . 69
Airbag System Check . . . . . . . . . . 70
Replacing Airbag System Parts after a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Child Restraints
Older Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Infants and Young Children . . . . 72
Child Restraint Systems . . . . . . . 75
Where to Put the Restraint . . . . . 76
Lower Anchors and Tethers forChildren (LATCH System) . . . . 77 Replacing LATCH System Parts
After a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Securing Child Restraints (Rear Seat) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Securing Child Restraints (Front
Passenger Seat) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234779) - 2016 - CRC - 1/5/16
48 Seats and Restraints
If equipped, the controls are on the
climate control panel. The engine
must be running to operate the
heated seats.
Press
MorLto heat the driver or
passenger seat cushion and
seatback.
Press the control once for the
highest setting. With each press of
the control, the heated seat will
change to the next lower setting,
and then the off setting. Three lights
indicate the highest setting and one
light the lowest.
The passenger seat may take
longer to heat up. Remote Start Heated Seats
When it is cold outside, the heated
seats can be turned on
automatically during a remote
vehicle start. The heated seats will
be canceled when the ignition is
turned on. Press the heated seat
controls to use the heated seats
after the vehicle is started.
The heated seat indicator lights on
the control do not turn on during a
remote start.
The temperature performance of an
unoccupied seat may be reduced.
This is normal.
The heated seats will not turn on
during a remote start unless the
heated seat feature is enabled in
the vehicle personalization menu.
See
Remote Vehicle Start 029 and
Vehicle Personalization 0121.
Folding Seatback
The front passenger seatback
folds flat.
{Warning
If you fold the seatback forward to
carry longer objects, such as skis,
be sure any such cargo is not
near an airbag. In a crash, an
inflating airbag might force that
object toward a person. This
could cause severe injury or even
death. Secure objects away from
the area in which an airbag would
inflate. For more information, see
Where Are the Airbags? 061 and
Vehicle Load Limits 0151.
{Warning
Things you put on this seatback
can strike and injure people in a
sudden stop or turn, or in a crash.
Remove or secure all items
before driving.
To fold the seatback: 1. Lower the head restraint all the way. See Head
Restraints 042.
Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234779) - 2016 - CRC - 1/5/16
Seats and Restraints 49
2. Move the seat as far back aspossible. See Seat
Adjustment 043.
3. Lift the lever fully and fold the
seatback forward.
If necessary, move the safety
belt out of the way to access
the lever.
4. Continue lowering the seatback until it is completely folded and
locks in place. To raise the seatback:
1. Lift the lever fully to unlock the seatback. Then, raise the
seatback and push it rearward
until it re-engages.
2. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is locked in
place.
{Warning
If either seatback is not locked, it
could move forward in a sudden
stop or crash. That could cause
injury to the person sitting there.
Always push and pull on the
seatbacks to be sure they are
locked.
Rear Seats
Folding the Seatback
Either side of the seatback can be
folded down for more cargo space.
Fold a seatback only when the
vehicle is not moving.
Caution
Folding a rear seat with the safety
belts still fastened may cause
damage to the seat or the safety
belts. Always unbuckle the safety
belts and return them to their
normal stowed position before
folding a rear seat.
Caution
Folding the rear seatback prior to
tilting the seat cushion forward
may damage the rear seat.
Always tilt the rear seat cushion
forward before folding the
seatback.
Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234779) - 2016 - CRC - 1/5/16
50 Seats and Restraints
To fold a seatback down:1. Make sure the floor area in front of the rear seats is clear.
2. Fully lower the head restraint. See Head Restraints 042.
3. Slide the front seats forward and place the front seatbacks
in the upright position. See
Seat Adjustment 043 and
Reclining Seatbacks 044.
4. Pull the strap on the front edge
of the rear seat cushion to
release the cushion. Tilt the
seat cushion forward toward
the front of the vehicle. The seat cushion must be tilted
forward before the seatback is
folded down. Otherwise, the
seatback will not fold down
properly.
Rear Seat with Retainer Hook on
the Seatback
5. Make sure the safety belt is in the retainer hook on top of the
seatback, if equipped.
Rear Seat with Retainer Hook on
the Seatback
6. Reach under the belt and pull the lever on top of the seatback
to unlock the seatback.
A tab near the seatback lever
raises when the seatback is
unlocked.
Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234779) - 2016 - CRC - 1/5/16
Seats and Restraints 51
7. Fold the seatback forwardand down.Safety Belt Clip on Side Trim
8. Place the outboard safety belt in the safety belt clip (if
equipped) on the side trim of
the vehicle.
9. Repeat Steps 1–8 for the other seatback and seat cushion,
if desired.
Raising the Seatback
{Warning
If either seatback is not locked, it
could move forward in a sudden
stop or crash. That could cause
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
injury to the person sitting there.
Always push and pull on the
seatbacks to be sure they are
locked.
{Warning
A safety belt that is improperly
routed, not properly attached,
or twisted will not provide the
protection needed in a crash. The
person wearing the belt could be
seriously injured. After raising the
rear seatback, always check to be
sure that the safety belts are
properly routed and attached, and
are not twisted.
Buick Encore Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234779) - 2016 - CRC - 1/5/16
52 Seats and Restraints
To return the rear seatback to the
normal seating position:
Safety Belt Clip on Side Trim
1. Remove the outboard safety belt from the safety belt clip (if
equipped) on the side trim of
the vehicle.
2. Lift the seatback and push it rearward to lock it in place.
A tab near the seatback lever
retracts when the seatback is
locked in place.
Make sure the safety belts are
not pinched by the seatback
locking mechanism. The center rear safety belt may
lock when you raise the
seatback. If this happens, let
the belt go back all the way
and start again. If the safety
belt is still locked, try again
after pulling the seat
cushion out.
3. Push and pull the top of the seatback to be sure it is locked
into position.
4. Return the seat cushion to its original position and push
down on the front part of the
seat cushion until it latches.
Make sure the safety belts and
safety belt buckles are not
trapped under the seat cushion
and are properly positioned
for use.
5. Repeat Steps 1–4 for the other seatback and seat cushion,
if necessary.
If additional cargo space is not
needed, the seatbacks should be
kept in the upright, locked position.
Rear Seat Armrest
The rear seat has an armrest in the
center of the seatback. Lower the
armrest to access the cupholders.
To fold, lift the armrest up and push
it rearward until it is flush with the
seatback.